Egg cleaning and sealing machine



Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. M LEAN EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1949 Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. M LEAN EGG CLEANINGAND SEALING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5

#9299 c. MCLGQN,

1 VENTOR.

HTTOQNEV Dec. 8, 1953 H. c. MOLEAN EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE sSheets-Sheet s Filed Feb. 5. 1949 EN TOR.

Hnees c. MCLEHN,

,QTTOENEV Patented Dec. 8, 1953 EGG CLEANING AND SEALING MACHINE HarryG. McLean, Los Angeles, Calif.; Nellie Troxel, administratrix of saidHarry 0. Mc- Lean, deceased, assignor to Nellie I. Troxel, Los

Angeles, Calif.

Application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,452

13 Claims.

My invention relates to egg cleaning and sealing machines.

The machinery prior to my invention for cleaning eggs has many defects.The prior dry abrasive method must be adjusted to the average egg. Aprolonged abrasive action is necessary to clean a very dirty egg andthis action should not be applied to a slightly soiled egg.

Eg s with irregular shapes or pebble surfaces are often ground too thinat the high points and the fine abrasive belt coatings become filledwith dirt too quickly under the prior dry abrasive method. Also,frequently, very dirty eggs are not completely cleaned and they must besorted out and sent through the prior machine again, thus increasing thecost of cleaning.

The prior washing method is also too slow because it takes too long forthe fluid to soak through the dirt. Long soaking may remove the naturalsealing of the egg and sometimes the cleaning fluid penetrates to theinner skin of the egg. The labor cost in the prior washing method isalso high.

I have developed a fast and effective cleaning and sealing machine andprocess. In my machine and process the egg is first given a quick rinse.Then a second rinse is combined with a light wiping from abrasive wipingpads that are provided with coarse abrasive coatings. These pads aremounted in pad carrying wiper wheels which permit a light wiping fromcoarse abrasive pads. The third step is to give the egg a wiping fromdamp, soft fabric pads. Then, as a fourth step, the egg is wiped by aseries of squeegee pads.

The final, or fifth, step is a squeegee wiping combined with a lightapplication of sealing fluid of a proven composition. This machine andmethod delivers the eggs in a clean and safe condition for cold storage.

It is an object of this machine to clean the eggs sothoroughly thatinspection is not necessary.

Another object of my invention is to clean the eggs and seal them insuch a way that they are attractive for the commercial market.

Another object of my invention is to reduce the cost of cleaning andsealing eggs.

Another object of my invention is to reduce or eliminate the breakage ofeggs in the cleaning and sealing process.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims, the novelty consisting in the featuresof construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of themembers and the relative proportioning, disposition and operationthereof, all as M is more completely outlined herein and as isparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this presentspecification,

Figure l is a vertical side view, partly in section, of my egg cleaningand sealing machine, showing my preferred embodiment in the com,-pletely assembled position.

Figure 2 is a vertical front elevation of my machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional front view, taken along the lines 33 of Figure1, showing the relative position of my egg cleaning pads at one stage ofthe operation.

Figure 4 is a detail view of some of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical side view, partly in section, showing my eggtransferring mechanism.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the relative positioning and mounting of myegg cleaning pads on their wheel.

Figure '7 is a detail view showing the mounting of my pad supportingsprings.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the mounting of my egg cleaning pads.

Figure 9 is a detail view of my spring wire pad holders.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, in elevation, showing part of my drivegear mechanism, and its mounting.

Figure 11 is a detail view along the lines I lll in Figure 1, showingthe detail of part of my drive gear mechanism. 1

Referring to the drawings, I will describe the first power train of myegg cleaning and sealing machine [0. A motor l2 drives the motor driveshaft M, which in turn drives two integrally attached helical drivegears, l5 and I8, shown in assembly in Figure 2 and in detail at [6 inFigure 10. Gear I8 is like gear 16 in detail.

Helical gear I6 drives helical gear 20 and helical drive gear I8 driveshelical gear 22. These gears are duplicates, as is seen in Figure 2, andit is therefore necessaryrto describe the power train of only one ofthem.

Helical gear 20 drives shaft 24, to which it is integrally attached.

Shaft 24 is integrally attached to miter drive gear 26 (seen in Figure11) which in turn drives miter driven gear 28 and shaft 39, to which itis integrally attached. Bearings 32 and .34 mounted in housing 36rotatably support shaft 30, which drives bevel driv gear 38. Gear 38drives bevel driven gear 40 which is integrally attached to drive shaft42 shown in assembly in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11.

Tubular spacers 43, shown in Figure 1, surround drive shaft 42 atappropriate intervals.

Drive shaft 54, shown in Figure 2, is identical with drive shaft 32 andis driven by a similar train of mechanism from gear 22 like the trainfrom gear to shaft #2.

Centers 45, shownin Figure l, for wiper wheel discs 46 complete thefirst power train, from the motor 12 to these wiper wheel discs i-Ewhich support the wiper pads.

The speed of rotation of the wiper wheel disc 46, which is determined bythe rotational speed of motor i2, is not critical, and may varyaccording to the toughness of the eggs being cleaned, according to thetoughness of the carrier springs I28 and 138 used, and according to thenature of the material used for wiper pads !22. Thus, if relativelytough springs i223 and i313, or relatively hard wiper pads I22 areemployed, or if relatively weak eggs are being cleaned, wiper wheeldiscs 46 and hence motor 12, should move relatively slowly to preventtoo great an impact on the eggs as the wiper pads [22 are brought intocontact with the eggs. On the other hand, if relatively weak springs I28and 38 are used, or if soft cushiony wiper pads I22, such as spongerubber wiper pads, are used, or if relatively strong eggs are beingcleaned, then wiper wheel discs 46 and hence motor 52 may move faster.

Although relatively fast winding strokes of wiper pads I22 over the eggswill more efficiently clean the eggs, relatively slow wiping strokes arestill very efiicient. A typical operating speed is for wiper wheel discs46 to rotate at about sixty (60) revolutions per minute. However, it isto be understood that this speed is not in any way critical, and thatwide variations may be employed with satisfactory results.

The next power train, from the motor 2 to the centrifugal pump, alsostarts from motor drive shaft i4 through its integral helical drive gear48 (seen in assembly in Figure 2), which drives helical driven gear 50,seen in Figure 10. Gear 50 drives shaft 52, which is integrallyconnected to spur drive gear 54 that drives spur driven gear 56, whichis integrally attached to driven shaft 58. Shaft 58 is mounted inbearing 60 in the right hand end wall 62. Shaft 5% drives thecentrifugal pump, as is hereinafter described.

. Shaft 58 also drives the friction drive wheels in the manner that Iwill now describe. Worms 64, shown in assembly in Figure 5, and indetail in Figures 3 and 4, drive worm gears 65, which are integrallyattached to shaft 68. Shaft 68,

in turn, is integrally connected to friction drive wheels 78, which arealways mounted in pairs.

Idler wheels '12 are rotatably mounted between the friction drive wheels10 to complete the train and to prevent the rims of egg wheels 15 fromreturning fluid to the eggs. Since Wheels '59 and 12 must squeeze therims of wheels M to remove the fluid, a frictional drive, provided in mypreferred embodiment shown herein, is preferable. Egg rotating wheels Mare mounted above friction drive wheels '10, which drive the eggrotating wheels by means of beveled rim E5 on friction drive wheel 10which frictionally engages and drives bevel 18 on egg rotating wheel 14.

Thus, rotative power from motor 12 is carried to shaft 58, which drivesfriction drive wheels iii which in turn rotate the egg rotating wheelsla. The egg 3G is thus rotated by egg rotating wheels 74 whenever thistrain of mechanism is in action.

I will now describe the mechanism which actuates the egg transferthrough the various posid tions that the egg assumes in being cleanedand sealed.

Drive shaft 68 is rotated by the train of mechanism described above andit also is attached to crank arms 82 which rotate with shaft 68. Crankarm 32 carries integrally connected shaft 84, which is in turn connectedto egg transfer plate 85. Thus the egg transfer plate 86 rotates withcrank arm 82.

V-shaped egg transferring notches 88, preferably five in number in theembodiment shown, act in the manner hereinafter described to transferthe egg through the various positions for cleaning and sealing.

I will now describe the train of mechanism that moves my egg wipers intoand out of operative position. Connecting rod 90, shown in assembledposition in Figures 3 and 5, is attached to my egg transfer plate 36 byconnection 92. At the lower end of connecting rod 90 is a connection asfor engaging and supporting shaft 96. Spacer sleeve 98 keeps the members84 properly spaced on shaft 96.

A fixed double mounting Hill on the right hand end of each shaft 96 alsosupports each shaft Hi2 and is connected to each link I02.

Thus, as the egg transfer plate 85 rotates it causes rods 99 to move upand down so that the top ends of rods 88 have a circular motion whilethe lower ends have an up and down motion. This up and down motion istransmitted to connecting links i012 which move the wiper wheels clearof the eggs during the egg transfer action in the manner that I will nowdescribe.

Links R32 are connected to levers 104 by the shaft 5%. Levers I84 arerotatably mounted on tubular hinge pin "38 and a fixed rod or shaft litconnects the two levers H14. As link Hi2 moves upwardly it thus rotateslever 34 about tubular hinge pin Hi8 and causes rod H0 to move upwardlyuntil it contacts lug I [2 on arm H4. Arm H4, in turn, supports padsupporting wheel disc 46 so that upward movement of lug H2 and arm H4will rotate the pad supporting wheel disc 35 about the axis formed bythe tubular hinge pin E08 so as to cause the pad supporting wheel discto move upward out of contact with egg 2!). This movement continues tothe uppermost extent of the movement of link I92.

When lins Hi2 starts down wheel disc 46 moves downwardly similarly,actuated by gravity and rotating about its pivot, tubular hinge pin I88.This downward movement of wheel disc at continues until projection H6 onarm H4 contacts hinge pin H8, which also serves as a splash covershaftas well as a stop for projection H5. The position of this hinge pinH8 with respect to projection H5 is such as to arrest wheel 46 at thedesired position to cause the pads to contact the egg and resume thewiping operations. This completes the train of mechanism for moving theegg pad wheel disc 46 into and out of operating position.

A splash cover are is fixed to hinge pin H8 and it collects the fluidthrown off by the wiper wheels. Supporting arms 42! of the splash coverI26 rest against hinge pin 108 when the splash covers are in properposition over the wiper wheels. When it is desired to change the wiperpads the splash covers I29 can be manually swung clear of the wiperwheels for this purpose.

I will now describe the wiper pads and their mounting on wheels 55.

or of soft fabric or of squeegee material.

tact.

Wiper pads I22 may be. of abrasiviematerial They arev mounted underspring clips I24 (as is-shown in Figure 8), on spring pad holders I26,which are mounted on carrier springs I28 and I30. Spring I28 is mountedon pivot pin I32 which may be split, as shown in Figure 7, and spring Iis similarly mounted on pivot pin I34. The two springs I28 and I38 areboth anchoredon anchor pin I36, as is seen in Figure 6. These pins, I32,I34, and I36 are mounted in holes I38 drilled in discs 46 to receivethem. This construction allows the wiper pads to slide tangentially overthe egg 80. The flat spring clips I24 have a double function, first tohold the wiper .pad I22 securely to the horns of the pad holder I26 andsecond to provide a smooth cover for the wiper pad to prevent itsabrading the soft rim of the egg wheels in case of accidental con- Theextended ends of the carrier springs I28 and I30 are tapered in to clearother nearby carrier springs, as is shown in Figure 7. The

mechanism I44 controls therate of flow of seal ing fluid. The containerI is mounted on a bar or bracket I46 which is held in place by pins I48on the right hand splash covers I20, as is seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The cleaning fluid is pumped by a centrifugal pump I50 actuated by shaft58, the power train of which was described hereinabove, and it drivesthe cleaning fluid through tube I52 to produce spray I54 through openingI56 in tube I52. The intake for this pump I50 is shown at I58 where itobtains fluid from the reservoir I60, provided for that purpose. Thisreservoir is mounted between the end plates I62 forming the left handend wall, the right hand end wall being numbered 62.

A drain plug I64 facilitates cleaning of the fluid reservoir I60.

The end walls, 62 and I62, are connected by a split housing I65, whichis bolted together by bolts I68. This housing I66 is bolted to the endwalls by bolts I10.

Another housing I12, attached by bolts I14 to wall 62, protects the gearmechanism.

The eggs are discharged from my machine along track I16 and they enterthe machine along track I18.

The remaining supporting and connecting mechanism is a motor supportingbracket IBt, which is attached by bolts I82 to wall 62.

I will now describe the method of operating my egg cleaning and sealingmachine and of performing my method of cleaning and sealing eggs.

An egg is placed on the feed track I18, the downwardslope of whichcauses the egg to roll until it bumps the first pair of egg Wheels 1e.During this travel and while the egg is arrested by wheel 14 the egg isrinsed by cleaning fluid pouring outin' spray I54 from holes 556 in tubeI52. The next step is to transfer the egg from track I18 to a positionbetween the first and second pairs of egg wheels 14. This transfer iseffected by the egg transfer plate 86, which isactuated by the powertrain described above to cause one of its V-shaped notches 88 to engagethe egg 80 and lift it from its position on track I18v to a posi- 2 I02,as described above.

tion between the first and second pairsof egg rotatingjwheels 14. Whenthe egg is thus do.- posited between the egg rotating wheels 14 it issupported and continually rotated there by these wheels. During the timeof this transfer of the egg 80 from the track I18to its position betweenthe first pair of wheels 14 by means of notches 88 the wiper pads I22are rotated out of the way by rotation of pad supporting wheel4'6ontubular hinge pin I08 by the vertical movement of link After the eggis thus deposited in a position between the egg rotating wheels 14, asis shown in Figure 3 hereof, the pad supporting wheel discs 46 arereturned to operative position by the lowering of link I02 and thecontacting of projection II6 with hinge pin IIB as described above.

The pads on this first wheel disc 45, the left hand one in Figure 1hereof, are equipped with abrasive material and the tube I50 with itsopenings I56 to produce'cleaning fluid spray I54 extends over the egg inthis position. Thus, the egg receives a combined washing and wipingunder the first splash cover I20, shown at the left of Figure 1 hereof.

The abrasive wiping of the egg in this position and the soft wiping andsqueegee wiping, accompreventing the eggs 80 from moving from wheels 14.Figure 3 hereof shows the egg 86 with two of these pads, I22, in contactwith it, showing the pull in opposite directions. A third pad, I22, fromthe right hand wheel disc in Figure 3 is about to engage the egg 68. Thetwo pads now in contact remain in contact with the egg 80 until afterthis third pad I22 on the right hand wheel disc has contacted the. egg80, thus making three pads contacting the egg 8!! during part of thetime.

After the wheels have progressed beyond this position where there arethose three pads contacting the egg 86, the right hand pad I22 will slipoff of the egg B0 and it will assume the position shown by the next padin the right hand wheel disc '46 in Figure 3, thus again leaving onlytwo pads contacting the egg 86. These two pads Will continue to contactthe egg until the next pad I22 on the left hand wheel progresses farenough to contact the egg and then again, there will be three padscontacting the egg 80 until the pad I22 that is contacting the egg 80 onthe left wheel in Figure 2 moves far enough to move off of the egg andassume the position of the next pad I22, shownin Figure 3 hereof.

In this manner, there are always two or three pads I22 contacting andwiping the egg, at least one of them being on each of the wheel discs 46so as to pull in opposite directions and effect abrasive or wipingaction without breaking the egg or necessitating wiper pads of the sameshape as the egg in order to hold the egg in place. These pads may be ofthe shape shown in Figure 8,

first and second wheels I4, perhaps best shown in Figure 5 hereof, to aposition between the second and third egg rotating wheels I4. Thisposition is the one below the second splash cover I25} from the left inFigure 1 hereof. The washing fiuid tube I52 does not extend over thisposition, as is seen in Figure 1 and the pads I22 on these wheels aremade of soft fabric, so as to provide a damp wiping.

Between all of these movements from position to position the mechanismof transferring the egg and moving the wheels 46 out of position,described hereinabove, is repeated.

After the damp Wiping between the second and third pairs of wheels I4the egg is then transferred to the position between the third and fourthwheels 14, this being the third position. Here the egg is wiped by thesqueegee pads I22 attached to holders I26. These squeegee pads wipe theegg dry from the cleaning fluid, or virtually dry, and leave the eggclean and ready for market.

The egg is then moved by the process described above to the fourthposition between the fourth and fifth egg rotating wheels M, where it isgiven a light application of sealing fluid combined with anothersqueegee wiping by squeegee wipers I22 on holders I26 of these wheeldiscs 46.

This sealing fluid comes from the container I40 through the opening I42which is positioned immediately above the e g, as is seen in Figure 2hereof. The rate of flow of the cleaning fluid is controlled byadjusting mechanism IM and the eggs are sealed ready for cold storage orcandling.

Finally the egg is again transferred by the notches 88 on the eggtransfer plate as from this fourth position between the fourth and fifthwheels I4 to the egg discharge track I16, which is slanted so as tocause the egg to move or roll onto a suitable conveyer belt or intowhatever receiving means is provided.

My novel machine and method presents several important features. Dirt isremoved from the dirtiest eggs without harm to the protective shell ofthe egg. The combined rinsing and abrasive wiping action softens, breaksup and removes the dirt with a very light touch from the abrasive pads.This mechanism permits the use of stiff fabric coated with coarseabrasives. In other machines where the abrasive element must be bent tothe shape of the egg, only abrasive fabrics having extreme flexibilitycan be used. To secure flexibility only fine abrasive coatings and opencoating can be used. Fine abrasive coatings fill with dirt easily and.soon lose their efiectiveness. By my method coarse abrasives which donot quickly fill with dirt can be used due to the construction andoperation of my machine and method.

In machines using abrasive belts some means must be provided to hold theeggs on the supporting egg wheel and to press down the belt to clean thepressed portions of the egg. In my machine the drag of the pads of eachwiper wheel is balanced by the opposing drag of the pads of the oppositewiper wheel. Since there is no wearing away of the egg shell in mymachine the duration of the cleaning action is set in my machine to thatrequired for the dirtiest eggs. Then all eggs come out clean and nofinal inspection is required.

Since the washing fluid is in contact with the egg shell for only a fewseconds it does not have time to seep'through to the inner skin and,therefore, because of this limited contact, only the surface naturalsealing of the egg is removed in my machine. The immediate applicationof a proven artificial sealing fluid assures the safe keeping conditionof the egg. Eggs from my machine are not wet and can be handled for anyother operation, such as candling or grading. The productive capacity ofmy machine can be increased by adding a few pairs of wiper wheels andthe necessary pairs of egg wheels. Of course the number of wheels can beincreased or decreased, as is desired, without changing the basic designof the machine, leaving most of the details unchanged. My machine is asuperior cleaner having large capacity and the eggs go through mymachine with a minimum of handling. The eggs are always thoroughlycleaned and are safe for storage when they have been processed throughmy machine.

t is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is my preferred embodiment and that various changes in theshape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenin opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, anegg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wipingposition between said opposed discs, egg transfer means operativelyengageable with the egg to remove the egg from its egg wiping position,and egg wiping mechanism retracting means operatively connected to saidegg wiping mechanism for moving said egg wiping mechanism out of the wayof the egg during operation of said egg transfer means.

2. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenin opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, anegg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wipingposition between said opposed discs substantially transversely to thewiping motion of said wiping mechanism, egg spraying means for sprayingthe egg in its egg wiping position, egg sealing mechanism spaced fromsaid egg wiping mechanism for applying a sealing material to the egg,and egg transfer means operatively engageable with the egg to move theegg from its egg wiping position to its egg sealing position.

3. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenin opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism andan egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wipingposition substantially transversely to the wiping motion of said wipingmechanism.

4. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenby synchronized drive mechanism, an egg rotating mechanism adapted torotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discsincluding a plurality of opposed egg rotating wheels and a drive meansto rotate said egg rotating wheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted toremove an egg from its egg wiping position including an egg transferplate, an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means forso applying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said eggengaging surface will operatively engage and remove an egg from its eggwiping position, egg spraying means for spraying an egg in its eggwiping position; and av disc-retractingmechanism including a pluralityof pivoted arms upon which the respective said synchronously drivenopposed discs are rotatably mounted and means to pivot said arms abouttheirrespectiv e pivots to move said discs out of their respectiveoperative positions when said egg.

ripheries of. said discs toccause the egg. to be.

engagedby at least one wiper pad on each of said discsat all timesduring theegg wiping operation; and .egg. rotating mechanism adapted. torotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discsincluding a pluralitynof opposed egg rotating wheels, a plurality offriction drive wheels disposed in driving frictional en-r gagement withsaid egg rotating wheels and drive means to rotate said frictiondrivewheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to remove an eggifrom its eggwiping position including an egg transfer plate, an engaging surface onsaid eg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to saidegg transfer plate that said eg engaging surface will operatively engageand remove an egg from its egg wiping position, egg sprayingmeansforspraying an egg in its egg wipingposition, and a disc retractingmechanism including apairof arms uponwhich the respective saidsynchronously driven drive shafts are rotatably mounted, a pair of hingepins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, -a pairof levers rotatably ,mounted on the respective said hinge pins andengageable with therespective said arms, means for rotating said leverson the respective said hinge pins into and out of operative engagementwith the respective saidarms when saidegg engaging surface isrespectively in and out of operative engagment with an egg to effectrotary movement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins andstop means to arrest returnrotary movement of said arms about therespective said hinge pins at a desired point.

6. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenby synchronized drive mechanism;- and a disc retracting mechanismincluding a plurality of arms upon which the respective saidsynchronously driven opposed discs are rotatably mounted, a plurality ofhinge pins upon which the respective said arms are rotatably mounted, aplurality oflevers ro'tatably mounted on the respective said hinge pinsand engageable with therespec tijve said arms, means'for rotating saidlevers on the respective saidhinge pins into and out of operativeengagement with the respective said arms to effect rotary movement ofsaid arms about the respective said hinge pins and stop means toarrest'th'e return rotary movement of said arms about the respectivesaid hinge pins at a desired point.

7. In an eg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including,aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driveninopposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, anegg transfer mechanism tive' yenga'ge and move an egg fromits ggwip'adapted to remove an egg from itsegg wiping position betweensaid opposeddiscs including an egg transfer plate, an egg. engaging surface .on saidegg transfer plate and means for so applying circular motion to said eggtransfer plate that said egg engaging surface will operatively, engageand remove an egg from its eggv wiping position, and adisc retractingmechanism including a plurality of pivoted armsupon which the respectivesaid synchronously driven opposed discs are rotatably mounted and meansto pivot said arms about their respective pivots to move said discs outof their respective operative positions when said egg is operativelyengaged by said, eg engaging surface. s

8. In an egg cleaning machine, an eggwiping mechanism including, a pairof synchronously driven drive shaftsa pair of opposed discs intograllyattached to the respective said shafts and a sufficient number of wiperpads equidistantly spring mounted around the opposed peripheries of saiddiscs to cause the e g to be engaged by at least one wiper pad on eachof said discs at alltimes during the egg wipingoperation, an eggrotatingmechanism adapted to rotate aneg in its egg Wiping positionbetween said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to removean. egg from its e g wiping position eluding an egg transfer plate anegg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for soapplying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said eggengaging surface will opera: tively engage and remove an egg from its cg wiping position, egg sprayingmeans for spraying an egg in its eggwiping position and a discre: traoting mechanism including a pair ofarms upon which the respective said synchronous1ydriven drive shafts arerotatably mounted, a pairpf hinge pins upon which the respective saidarms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotataloly mounted on therespective said hinge pins and, engageable with the respective said arms, means for rotatin said levers on the respective said hinge pins intoandout of operative engagement with the respective said 7 arms when saidegg engaging surface is respectively I into and out of p ra e en ag mentith eg t ef e t r tary movement of said arms about the respectiv saidhinge pins and stop means to arre st retu'n' rotary/ movement of saidarms about the respec' tive said hingepins ata desired point. N v

In clean n e en s l i mechanism including a Pair of synchronously drivendriveshafts, a p-air of opposed discs in sub; stantially planaralignment integrally attached to the respective said shafts and asufii'cientnumb'r of wiper pacl's'- equidistantly spring moun ed aroundthe opposed peripheries of said discs to. cause the egg to be .engageubyat least onejwiper Dad o eacuof said discs" at an times cufr ngtnez eggwiping operation, an egg rotatingi'nechanisrfi adapted tofrotate -anegg'in its egg wiping posi tionbetween Said opposed discs, an egg trn's'fer mechanis adapted to move'an egg from its egg wipingposi'tion toan egg sealing position includ ing an egg transfer plate, an eggengaging stir faceon said egg transfer plate and means forso applying circularmotion tojsai d egg transfer platej that said egg engaging surface willup ns pes ii fit s. eess 'al s os on e s ing means for spraying an eggin its egg wip ng position a disc retracting mchanisrfi including a pairof ari'nsupon w ch the respective said synchronously driven drive shaftsare rotatably mounted, a pair of hinge pins upon which the respectivesaid arms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotatably mounted onthe respective said hinge pins and engageable with the respective saidarms, means for rotating said levers on the respective said hinge pinsinto and out of operative engagement with the respective said arms whensaid egg engaging surface is respectively in and out of operativeengagement with an egg to effect rotary movement of said arms about therespective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest return rotarymovement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desiredpoint, and egg sealing means including a sealing fluid reservoir andmeans for conducting said sealing fluid from said reservoir to said eggafter said egg has been moved from its e wiping position to its eggsealing position by said transfer mechanism.

10. In an egg cleaning machine, an eg wiping mechanism including a pairof synchronously driven drive shafts, a pair of opposed discs insubstantially planar alignment integrally attached to the respectivesaid shafts and a sufficient number of wiper pads equidistantly springmounted around the opposed peripheries of said discs to cause the egg tobe engaged by at least one wiper pad on each of said discs at all timesduring the egg wiping operation, an egg rotating mechanism adapted torotate an egg in its eg wiping position between said opposed discsincluding a plurality of opposed egg rotating wheels, a plurality offriction drive wheels disposed in driving frictional engagement withsaid egg rctatin wheels and drive means to rotate said friction drivewheels, an egg transfer mechanism adapted to move an egg from its eggwiping position to an egg sealing position including an egg transferplate, an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means forso applying circular motion to egg transfer plate that said egg engagingsurface will operatively engage and move an egg from its egg wipingposition to its egg sealing position, egg spraying means for spraying anegg in its egg wiping position, a disc retractingmechanism including apair of arms upon which the respective synchronously driven drive shaftsare rotatably mounted, a pair of hinge pins upon which the respectivesaid arms are rotatably mounted, a pair of levers rotatably mounted onthe respective said hinge pins and engageable with the respective saidarms, means for rotating said levers on the respective said hinge pinsinto and out of operative engagement with the respective said arms whensaid egg engaging surface is respectively in and out of operativeengagement with an egg to effect rotary movement of said arms about therespective said hinge pins and stop means to arrest return rotarymovement of said arms about the respective said hinge pins at a desiredpoint, and egg sealing means including a sealing fluid reservoir, meansfor conducting said sealing fluid from said reservoir to said egg aftersaid. egg has been moved from its egg wiping position to its egg sealingposition by said egg transfer mechanism.

. 11. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including apair of synchronously driven drive shafts, a pair of opposed discsintegrally attached to the respective said shafts and a suflicientnumber of wiper pads equidistantly spring mounted around the opposedperipheries of said discs to engage the egg during the cleaningoperation, an egg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its eggwiping position be tween said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanismadapted to remove an egg from its egg wiping position including an eggtransfer plate,

1 an egg engaging surface on said egg transfer plate and means for soapplying circular motion to said egg transfer plate that said egg engaging surface will operatively engage and removetheir respective pivots tomove said discs out of their respective operative positions when saidegg is operatively engaged by said egg engaging surface.

12. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg Wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs driven'in opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, anegg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wiping position between said opposed discs, an egg transfer mechanism adapted toremove an eg from its egg wiping position, egg spraying means forspraying an egg in its egg wiping position, and a disc retractinmechanism adapted to move said discs out of their respective operativepositions when said egg is being removed from its egg wiping position bysaid egg transfer mechanism.

13. In an egg cleaning machine, an egg wiping mechanism including aplurality of wiper pads mounted on a plurality of opposed discs drivenin opposite directions of rotation by synchronized drive mechanism, anegg rotating mechanism adapted to rotate an egg in its egg wipingposition between said opposed discs substantially transversely to thewiping motion of said wiping mechanism, egg spraying means for sprayingthe egg in its egg wiping position, and egg transfer means operativelyengageable with the egg to remove the egg from its egg wiping position.

HARRY C. MCLEAN.

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